Former Mazabuka Central member of parliament Gary Nkombo was attacked this morning shortly after arriving at Mazabuka Civic Centre where he was expected to lodge his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the August 13 general election.
Witnesses at the scene said a group of masked men descended on Nkombo moments after his arrival, causing confusion and panic among supporters gathered at the civic centre. Some of the suspected attackers were reportedly clad in UPND regalia, although official confirmation from police and the ruling party had not yet been issued by press time.
Images and videos circulating from the scene showed Nkombo’s shirt torn during the commotion as supporters attempted to shield him from the attackers. The incident quickly drew attention from residents and political supporters gathered around the nomination centre.
The attack comes barely a day after Nkombo publicly disclosed that he had been pushed by supporters to contest as an independent candidate following his fallout with the UPND adoption process. Speaking during a gathering with supporters yesterday, Nkombo said he still loved UPND but felt politically abandoned after years of loyalty to the party.
“I feel like I have been thrown onto a political dump site,” Nkombo told supporters, while explaining why he was considering breaking away from the ruling party to contest independently.
He also said many ordinary supporters had encouraged him not to abandon the people of Mazabuka Central, insisting that the movement around his independent bid had grown beyond personal ambition.
Today’s violence is expected to heighten political tensions in Mazabuka, one of Southern Province’s key political battlegrounds ahead of nominations and campaigns.
Police officers were later seen attempting to restore order around the civic centre as confusion continued among rival supporters.
More details later as the story unfolds. Official comments from police, UPND officials and Gary Nkombo’s camp are still expected.
These chaps have always been violent. Inveters of Mapatizya formula
UPND, what did we tell about the PF defectors? You invited vayolence into your ranks.
PF mingalato at work! You guys are so power hungry that you even forget the logs in your eyes.
Cadre vayolence yoziletelela.
The first opposition in Zambia’s history to overtake a presidential motorcade these savages
@Nizanu Izo, are you putting the blame on PF for MAZABUKA attack? These guys have always been violent.
How old is Garry?
He must be 60 or like HH, 64
49.
His classmate at UNZA was Patrick Chisanga 57. Gary is about 58
This a great example of, “Politics ya njala”.
Explain.
I Thought caderism was done away, this party must go to the dampsite
To the used condom site
I hope he has really filed in, because you can hear that because he had a torn shirt, so blah blah it is invalid
What did Gary Nkombo do for HH to hate him like this? It’s like HH wants to throw him into Lusaka’s absent sewer system
Kenneth Kaunda v Simon Kapwepwe 2.0
Yeah, Democracy is a civilised man’s game. But with primitive followers it can fast become a savages’ game. I remember Donald Trump’s followers trying to kill their vice president
SPOT ON
Simon would have been better
and that’s why HH has a weak vp
@Phiri-And they nearly succeeded. There was a black security man who was very heroic in fighting off the rogue invaders
Perhaps Gary has seen the light and what really HH is like and not what he portrays ??
True he has
Lock them up
This has to be condemned by even supporters of UPND…………
This is not how we conduct politics………
PF got voted out because of this behaviour……..
I’m positive the president will say something about this savagery
FWD2031
I agree with you this time Howver didnt like the warning as there are far better ways of putting a strong word across
And look at the police just watching someone being assaulted. They can’t even do anything because the perpetrators are from the ruling party. Those police officers should also be fired for getting free salaries and not doing their job.
It looks a bit staged maybe, no guns, no blood, no arrest, just shouting and shoving (and someone filming for social media). What kind of cops are unarmed in Zambia? Nanga alibe even ma batons?
Since 2021 there hasn’t been an arrest of any UPND member. They have suddenly become angels.
The devils are all from the opposition. Is this ZAMBIA police or UPND police?
They can’t be fired. They are from the database.
Only police men recruited from Lilayi can be fired.
@Spaka read LT. Your president has made a cowardly warning to ”
individuals who allegedly attempted to disrupt the lawful filing of nominations”
Cowardly, because he is scared of mentioning Nkombo. Why? He must apologize to Nkombo. The thugs who attacked him are HH’s supporters. They were obviously acting on instructions from Community House.
This was nothing to do with HH, as a matter of fact…….
HH can’t control or know every thing happening with party members………
If there is any blame it sits squarely with the home secretary and the Inspector of police…….
As someone said , from the scenes , a staged performance is not beyond comprehension……..
FWD2041
It starts to make sense, looking into it, that one threatening Nkombo is sometimes HH personal bodyguard. The cops are actually afraid of him sadly
It will be interesting to see ngati azakamba kusogolo
Nkombo attacked himself….its all scripted…..Nkombo organized those attackers….it was all planned yesterday…and now he will be begging for sympathy votes…Politicians are conmen
As a matter of what fact you blind follower? Now you want to hang on to the straw of “staged performance”
Some of you want blood to be spilled before you can sober up and admit your mistakes.
HH can’t….. I’m from another platform where this HH who cant is being credited with the rescue of 5 miners in Mumbwa. How does an HH who can’t control or know everything lead the highly sophisticated rescue operations of underground mining?
Oh I see if it’s embarrassing “HH cant”. If it’s heroic he can!
UPND is just PF rebranded….kikikikikiki…80 percent of PF supporters are now UPND…
This could inside job…never trust a Politician
Very sad….! Who would thought Nkomo would be tested like this by the UPND?
No one attacked him….its called attention seeking and looking for sympathy votes….we know the drill….Politicians are conmen
Bildon Haloba led the group who tried to physically block him and then threatened police with dismissal. Watch the video
It panned out that the man who assaulted Mr Nkombo is from state house, you can’t make it up
State House is the operations base of primitive rogues
We are back in the Kaizer Zulu kinda untouchable cadre violence and arrogance. MMD went down because of this kinda behaviour, similarly PF self destructed cos of this kinda behaviour. 2031 Zambia requires a different set/crop/type of politicians towing civilised way of dealing with issues, take a leaf from Botswana next door how they conduct their politics. What a shame babaric behaviour in this time, no wonder level of participation in political leadership by women in Zambia is low. Any way what do you expect if the Kalimanshi’s who caused so much trouble in PF can be welcomed to UPND like heroes
Let the games begin!!!!